Cardiovascular valve and valve housing apparatuses and systems

Abstract

A cardiovascular valve assembly is disclosed including a housing assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion removably attached to the first portion. A valve may be positioned within the housing assembly. The valve, which may be a mechanical valve, a biological tissue valve, or a polymeric valve, may be structured to allow fluid to flow through the housing assembly in a single direction. In certain embodiments, the valve assembly may further include at least one coupling structure provided on the second portion and at least one aperture defined in the first portion, with the aperture structured to receive the coupling structure to couple the first portion to the second portion. Corresponding systems incorporating cardiovascular valve assemblies are also disclosed.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A cardiovascular system, comprising:
 a tube configured to connect to a tissue wall;   a valve positioned within the tube;   a cutting member within the tube, the cutting member being configured to cut tissue from the tissue wall to form an opening in the tissue wall;   a tissue retraction member configured to remove the tissue cut by the cutting member from the tube; and   an anchor extending from the tissue retraction member for anchoring to the tissue to be removed.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the tube is configured to provide a sealed interface between the tissue wall and a cardiovascular device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the tube is cylindrical. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the tube is sized and dimensioned for implanting to the tissue wall. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the tube is elongated. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the tube is configured to attach to the tissue wall. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the tube is configured to attach to the tissue wall by sutures. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a conduit system comprising a conduit and a connector assembly, wherein the connector assembly includes expandable members configured to deploy and secure the conduit to the tissue wall. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the conduit system further comprises a retaining member, the retaining member being configured to retain the expandable members in a delivery configuration and retract to allow the expandable members to deploy. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the valve is a one-way valve configured to prevent blood flow in a direction away from the tissue wall. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the valve comprises at least one of a mechanical valve, a biological tissue valve, and a polymeric valve. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the valve is formed as part of the tube. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the valve is configured to seal the cutting member to the tube. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the valve is configured to allow the cutting member to pass through the valve and is configured to block blood flow through the tube from an opening cut in the tissue by the cutting member. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a handle, wherein the cutting member extends distally from the handle within the tube. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the cutting member is directly connected to the handle. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the cutting member is cylindrical with a distal cutting edge configured for coring the tissue wall. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the tissue retraction member extends through the cutting member. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the valve is configured to allow the anchor to pass through the valve and remove tissue cut by the cutting member. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the anchor forms part of the tissue retraction member. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the anchor has a corkscrew shape. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the tissue wall is a wall of a ventricle of a heart. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the tissue wall is one of a wall of a chamber of a heart, a pulmonary artery wall, a blood vessel wall, and a wall of a cardiovascular organ. 
     
     
         47 . A method of accessing a cardiovascular vessel, comprising:
 determining a size of a target location of a vessel;   selecting a size of a cutting device based on the size of the target location;   selecting a size of a tube for attaching to the vessel based on the size of the target location;   positioning the tube against the vessel at the target location;   inserting the cutting device through the tube to the target location;   anchoring a section of tissue to be removed from the vessel;   cutting the section of tissue from a wall of the vessel using the cutting device; and   retrieving the anchored section of tissue through the tube.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the cutting device is a cylindrical coring blade, the cutting being performed by rotating the cutting device into the vessel or organ wall. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising impeding flow of blood out of the vessel after removal of the cutting device. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising suturing the tube to the vessel. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein anchoring the section of tissue comprises rotating a corkscrew anchor into the section of tissue prior to cutting the section of tissue from the wall of the vessel. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising removing the cutting device and tube after retrieving the anchored section of tissue. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the vessel is one of a chamber of a heart, a pulmonary artery, a blood vessel, and a cardiovascular organ. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the anchoring is performed prior to the cutting. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein retrieving the anchored section of tissue comprises removing the section of tissue through the cutting device. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein retrieving the anchored section of tissue comprises removing the section of tissue into the tube.